Black(?) Hollywood

Although I strongly, strongly detest the idea of "Black Hollywood"...I feel like because this blog is focusing on the achievements (open for debate) of Blacks IN Hollywood I didnt want to mislead any of my readers of other races. Why? You may ask, dont I like the term "Black Hollywood" well because I think it establishes a hill that almost seems insurmountable...as if to say there are separations in WHICH "Hollywood" , actors can work in. I mean after all do we say that Martin Scorcese, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Ron Howard, etc... are a part of "White" Hollywood and moreover where does that leave the Will Smith's, Denzel Washington's and Samuel Jackson's of the world? I think titles like "Black" Hollywood are only in place to continue to segregate us and ensure that in a lot of ways we are never able to fully break in to mainstream.

Dont get me wrong..."Black Hollywood" has its perks...it allows America to see/hear our concerns, stories, actors, producers and directors...it gives our artists' exposure and our stories an audience so there is some good to it. But I decided to blog about this after hearing about Spike Lee's comments regarding the work of Tyler Perry...here they are if you missed them:

“Each artist should be allowed to pursue their artistic endeavors but I still think there is a lot of stuff out today that is “coonery” and buffoonery. I know it’s making a lot of money and breaking records, but we can do better. … I am a huge basketball fan, and when I watch the games on TNT, I see these two ads for these two shows (Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” and “House of Payne”) and I am scratching my head. … We got a Black president and we going back to Mantan Moreland and Sleep ‘n’ Eat? As African Americans, we’re not one monolithic group so there is room for all of that.But at the same time, for me, the imaging is troubling and it harkens back to “Amos n’ Andy.”"

So when I read this I decided that a discussion needed to be opened up...I totally understand where Spike is coming from and I agree with a lot of what he is saying...as a fan of his work and the work of others like John Singleton and Gary F. Gray....I can understand his frurstration with the success that Perry has found with roles like Mr. Brown, Madea and Joe....however, I think there is something to be gained from what Perry has done to date. Spike Lee introduced America to the issues that were almost taboo at the time...interracial relationships, drug abuse, religion as a major role in our lives...he shed light on our heroes with Malcolm X and even just last year with Kobe's docushort during the season...and he always uses his "celebrity", power, etc... to shine light on issues...which he did magnificently with "When the Levees Broke"....and then there's Singleton ( who in my opinion walks a masterfully difficult line) who tells really dark stories of what we go through in our worst moments...on our worst days...

And now lets turn the lens towards Perry. His plays/films/tv shows depend totally on the boisterous, religious, "animated" side of the African American experience but to his defense...I have yet to see any of his productions end without a positive message and he has employed so many African American actors, crew members and casting directors. He uses his power to/money to advance projects like Precious which he is coproducing with Oprah...so what do we make of it all?! Could Spike and Tyler be arguing opposite sides of the same spectrum...I think they would both agree that our stories need to be told...how our stories are told is where they would butt heads and as an African American actress I am interested in being a part of stories that dont rely on selling gimmicks and as an African American woman the reliance on overweight, loud, obnoxious, bible slinging women rubs me the wrong way in many of Perry's works. Characters like Mr. Brown and Joe perpetuate a negative stereotype of Black men (that is probably rooted in Perry's abusive relationship with his father) that is not a part of many stories in the African American experience...where have we heard these arguments before?

I'll go out on a limb and say that some of the people who now support Perry's works may be direct descendants of those who complained that the "unrealistically happy Huxtables" did not represent a true version of African American life while many people...including myself...applaude Cosby's bravery and step towards forcing America to see us in a different light. True, not everyone's mother and father were a successful lawyer and doctor. No, the majority of us did not have Judith Jameson dancing in our living rooms or visits from Dizzy Gillespie but lots of us came from families that understood the importance of education (the infamous "I brought you in this world, I'll take you out" episode as a result of Theo's bad grades) and tried their darndest to express the importance of a strong familial unit...I guess the only way to fit some of everyone's experiences in...is to allow people from all different experience's to have the artistic freedom they need to express the things they've been through...

As usual I dont have the answers...just think the discussion is one that shouldnt go overlooked...Check out these 2 videos...Tyler Perry's 60 minutes interview and the trailer for a film that makes me excited about the future of Blacks IN Hollywood :)

Good vs. Bad...

WOW! So I hear a lot of men ask the question "why do all the good guys finish last?" and I have a few ideas as to why it SEEMS that way but I also want to ask my men a question: are you usually going for the good girl? Think about that long and hard...now back to the original question...

"Why do good guys finish last?"

Women like a few things...power, confidence, a challenge and the opportunity to feel like she can rescue someone...and of course to be adored by someone who people may think is impossible to keep...all too often bad boys encompass all of these things but where we women mess up is forgetting that men like all the things women like... so as we become puppets in these man's hands because we're all in love...we forget to pull out our "freakum dress" or have a night out with our girls...or to walk into a room and have every head turn because we're walking like we got it...we forget to do that and so we lose the interest of the bad boy...but those magnets are strong...too often good guys act like love sick women and so WE get bored...

{Before I continue let me say I totally dont think there is any such thing as a "bad guy" who was not at some point a "good guy" and the same thing goes for women}

"Bad" guys have this aura about them that screams "i dont need you woman" and the idea that we are not needed presents *drumroll please* a CHALLENGE...CONFLICT...we all live for it...we breath it...its wonderful...we love challenges...its why shows like Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune have been on for centuries...we like to see a problem and then decide how to fix it...so when we, women, see a man who has this air about himself we go crazy for it. Because bad guys are often hurt good guys that mother instinct kicks in and we feel like we have to save them, we have to be there to prove to them that goodness exists..we give it all...and all in all "bad" guys just know how to play the game to get the girl...they know how to have a good time without worrying about what people may think, they're often trendsetters and are usually the adored of they're male counterparts as well...and the most obvious yet most ignored reason of all...the MEDIA...duh...in every movie. video, everything...the bad guys are the sexiest...we learn to like all the things they do (tattoos, fast cars, partying, lots of women) and they are most often portrayed as the best lovers but honestly "bad" guys always end up alone unless they channel all those things into loving the woman who has dedicated herself to him...the ultimate good guy with bad guy charisma is Barack Obama...check his steps...you dont have to become president but peep his style...its SICK!

And now I want to speak up for the good girls! Because I hear you fellas out there always complaining about this good guys finishing last idea but what about us? Lets start from the top down...prime examples...two of the biggest female stars right now are Rihanna and Beyonce...and I think it is safe to say that neither of them experienced the height of their success until they turned the corner from sweet girl next door to the freak around the corner...I mean Rihanna spelled it out for us "Good Girl Gone Bad" (sold over {and is still selling} 4 million copies worldwide better than her first 2 "good girl" albums combined)...and the video girls who you all adore and praise...sex video starlets...the list goes on and on...you men seem to want bad...sexy...dangerous but you want to not be held to the same standards? I dont think thats a fair standard...there are many seemingly plain, good girls who are wonderfully eccentric, daring, risky, educated, focused and BEAUTIFUL inside and out but you probably wouldnt give them a second look on the street because some "bad" girl wearing close to nothing would probably be stealing your eye at the moment :)

The bottom line to all of this is...we need to appreciate the good in the people we come in contact with because if one more good girl/guy had been appreciated in the way he/she deserved there would be one less bad girl/guy to break another heart...I love all my brothas (and brothas from another mother) and I encourage my good dudes to turn your "swagga" {i know the word is horribly overused} up, puff your chest up, hold your degrees up and go after your dreams and the woman who you're supposed to be with, the woman who will appreciate everything about you, will come along. Love yall!!

Will Sex ever be TABOO again?

Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte in Carmen Jones

As part of the hip hop generation, I hear all the concerns from older generations about what we're being exposed to through our music, movies and TV shows...often times I feel that its blown out of proportion ( seeing as how Rick James, Marvin Gaye,Barry White, Uncle Luke, etc...were around long before many of us were even thought of...in fact we may have gotten here with their aid) but mostly I can see where the concern comes from. I love music...especially the music that WE have created through hip hop (dont know you guys' definition but hip hop is now more than "rap" to me...its the whole movement...so im including singers in that title as well) and so I am always listening to many different genres and comparing the content and I must say we talk about sex...A LOT! We talk about the feeling sex gives, we talk about the best way to get sex from someone, we even talk about HOW to have sex...and as the age of music superstars continues to decline it worries me to think that they feel the need to continue with the hyper-sexualized content. As an adult I can appreciate some of the naughty lines that artists such as Trey Songz, Lil Wayne or Mario drop in their songs but as an educated woman with a little sister who I love dearly...I am worried.

I was looking through some of the artwork of old albums that I adored when I was younger and I must say they were clean...the artists who I looked up to were actually innocent...Monica, Brandy, Immature...there was no going online to see them in "naked pics" or "doing something strange for a little piece of change" on worldstarhiphop....and there was no hiding their music from my mother when she came in the room....

And then there were the other artists who introduced me to the music that I in fact DID have to hide from my mother when she came in the room...the TLC albums, Usher LP's...pretending to not know what Aaliyah meant by "getting down aint nothing but a thing" but the bottom line is I knew better...I knew that what they were selling to me was not okay...it was still pretty taboo...there were not full shows dedicated to who can sleep with a rich man the fastest...or who can sleep with as many strangers as possible in the course of a season...sex scenes were still being suggested by shots of people's feets sticking out of the bottom of blankets....and you had to have HBO to see anything that you would have to cover your eyes for...things are VASTLY different now...there are shows on primetime that would make HBO sweat i.e. Nip/Tuck...certain episodes of Grey's...recent episode of House...etc...etc...and dont even get me started on some of the ad campaigns using sex to sell everything from jeans to perfumes so what's next?

At this point I personally feel that we've become so desensitized to sex that there is no going back to a time when class was more important than....you get the point...it hurts me to think that real talent will start to fall second to how "sexy" you can be...I dont know if a show, album, film, etc...can sell without the ultra selling power that sex has and where does that leave artists? fans? the next generation? I dont have the answers...but hopefully the discussion can start through my questions

Gold Digger? Or refusing to settle?

This is an issue that has been on my mind for quite some time now...

I used to think I knew what men meant when they called a woman a "golddigger". I figured they were describing a woman who only went out with men for what she hoped to gain from him and often times will stop at nothing to get whatever she wants from him i.e. getting pregnant, claiming rape, forcing marriage upon him, etc...but I feel over time this definition has changed to include women who simply aren't settling for "Pookie and his crew". It disturbs me when men, especially men with power/money/fame, use this term to describe women who seek to marry a man who can provide for them. I mean in reality who wants to be with someone who cannot make his own ends meet let alone make sure all her ends are met. I do not see this as some underhanded, crooked way of thinking that should make me feel bad about being attracted to someone who has a lot of money or a wonderful career. I do agree that this should not be the ONLY factor in deciding upon the man I want but if it is ONE of the factors I dont see why I should be viewed so negatively for it. I know there has been this emergence of women who fit the "independent woman" criteria and thats wonderful and I NEVER want to have to depend solely on a man to do anything for me ( I in fact pride myself on having dreams that will make me richer than even the average RICH man) but as I move up in my life, career, dreams, and financial stability I am going to want a man who is on the same upward track not someone who is doing less than. I often times think the "golddigger" discussions are just a way for insecure men who never felt appreciated or desired by women to reveal their insecurities about their newfound wealth/power/status/or perceived handsomeness and it has little to nothing to do with the women at hand. Don't get me wrong there are some women who set out in life to marry a rich man and never work again but what I think is hilarious is the amount of men who spend so much time shutting out all the women who actually care for them (and just want to feel secure) that they, in the end, wind up with a woman who only wants them for their money...

So all my fellas out there who are either currently doing their thing or plan to be living large really soon...make sure you're swinging the sword in the right direction when you use these overarching titles "golddigger", "jersey chaser", "paper chaser", etc...

And for the ladies....keep it real with these men out here...get to know them and more importantly do something with your OWN life so you can walk away from anyone who doesn't treat you with the utmost respect; HOWEVER, for all my women who don't know if their golddiggers or not, here are some tell-tell signs that you are most definitely a GD:

(1) you ONLY date guys who are professional actors, athletes, singers, rappers, producers, etc...

(2) you ONLY date guys who are prospective pro actors, athletes, singers, rappers, producers, etc...

(3) you are currently dating a guy who you know nothing about besides what kind of car he drives and how big of a house he lives in

(4) you know the salaries, names and favorite hangout spots of all your home team's players and all the neighboring states/cities players

(5) you know/plan on knowing/are currently planning traps to get and keep a "rich man"

(6) you are in the process of doing nothing other than spending some man's money

(7) you refer to the man you're dating as your "meal ticket", "golden ticket", "atm", "bank account", "sponsor", etc...

(8) you are at the club after the lights come on and you were NOT initially with the VIP party

(9) not even interested in kids for any other reason than an investment

(10) ULTRA materialistic...all you care about is labels...even one's you cant readily identify...as long as it sounds expensive

Hope this helps all my men and women out there who are struggling with this same topic...and yall know its just my thoughts ;)

sincerely,

@bestnewactress

Can You Hear Me Now?

So in this age of Skype/iChat and all the other millions of ways to see someone miles and miles apart...is there any such thing as a "long distance relationship"? And if there is...is it easier to maintain now that there is a way to practically be in the same room as that person at anytime from any place? I ask this question because as you know McDreamy is millions of miles away and when I asked him what a good blog topic would be he suggested the question of "long distance relationships" . Personally, I feel two ways about the emergence/aid/use of video chatting technology to help keep people close even from far away....one way is that it takes away the idea that you wont "see" them for a long time and so you dont have to worry about sensing feelings through emails, facebook messages, etc...; therefore, eliminating the miscommunication that often makes "long distance relationships" the be all end all....BUT I also think it often times makes things harder because you're looking at this person and they're there in the flesh...smiling, laughing, eating....and all you want to do is reach out and touch them, you want to be in their arms....and so is it better to not even see them at all? I mean with new technology you cant even psyche yourself into believing "out of sight out of mind" until you can see that person again...its tough. I think long distance relationships are extremely difficult and can only be maintained by mature, honest, emotionally and mentally stable adults. I also think they're one of the most beautiful relationships two people can have because they take an amazing amount of commitment to maintain....I mean nothing is worse than being away from the people you love but nothing is more gratifying than knowing no matter how far you go those people are ready and willing to be there for you. So I ask all you out there...are long distance relationships worth it? Are ANY relationships worth it for that matter (especially in this day and age)? Do relationships hold the same value as they once did? Or are marriages the only relationships that really, truly matter? Everyone has to answer these questions for themselves but feel free to share them with me :)

Sincerely,

@bestnewactress

Respect! Appreciation! Acknowledgement...Part II

So as promised...I'm taking a little time out and using my blog to show respect to some of the artist out there who may go under applauded, overlooked and sideswept...and so I decided it was about time someone gave some shine to one of the best actors in the business:

COURTNEY B. VANCE

He is absolutely wonderful to me...he is a trained actor and has been working in film, tv and theatre for over 20 years now...he is also a DETROIT native like myself and so many other talented artists. I think what impresses me most about him is his ability to bring something different to every character he plays even if the characters happen to be in the same range (as is the case with his role as bureau chief of the FBI on FlashForward which is closely related to his role as Ben Carver on Law and Order: Criminal Intent). He just quietly moves through Hollywood creating great work on screen and getting little to no recognition and he is one of the best actors on television right now hands down. He graduated from Harvard AND went to Yale School of Drama...he's been nominated for two Tony awards for his stage work in August Wilson's Fences and John Guare's Six Degrees of Seperation...when I see an actor like Courtney B. Vance go unnoticed it makes me sad...I can only imagine the time and effort he puts in to each and every role...he is incredible...and on another note he seems to be a standup dude...he's married to Angela Bassett and they have twins...they wrote a book about their love and relationship:

Check him out on FlashForward every Thursday at 8/7c on ABC...(i know, i know "what you work for the networks now?" lol NO im just giving out the info)...the show is FIRE i love it...and Courtney B. Vance does not disappoint!

Sincerely,

@bestnewactress

Baby Gap Contest!!

SO...

GAP is having the most adorable contest ever! They are having a Baby Gap casting call for the next generation of child models...everyone who knows me knows how crazy I am about babies and kids...I think they're just THEE BEST...but honestly I am using my blog to shamelessly promote three of the most adorable children I know who are in the contest...

Brioni who's Baby Gap id is Brioni06...(wondering about the ANP in the corner of her photo..looks official huh? Because it is...blog about up and coming photographer Ashley Nguyen coming soon)

Baby DeAngelo who's Baby Gap id is DLODSMOM

And last but not least Baby Cameron who's Baby Gap id is Mylitta123

So...I know they are cute as pie...go on over to gap.com and enter their id numbers and vote for them...yall know the power of our votes...Obama hello?!?! Hehe help em out...

Sincerely,

@bestnewactress

Will the Dear Heart Chronicles make a comeback?

Well I thought I had closed the book on the "Dear Heart" chronicles for now...but...lets just say McDreamy wasn't having it. The truth of the matter is we had something special and just because we're thousands (maybe even millions) of miles apart and in two totally different parts of the world...doesnt mean what we had has to die. So now I am rushing to my gmail account every morning to read the words of the man I thought I was letting go when he told me he was boarding a plane to go follow his dreams on the other side of the world :) and rather I want it to happen or not...the "Dear Heart" chronicles are returning...how is this happening?

Truth of the matter is this: inside every woman who says "im focused on me" "im only thinking about my career" "i dont have time for dudes" and any other array of things that a woman such as myself (with big dreams, strong goals, focused mental, high morals etc...etc..) will say...lies the girl who lives in our heart ( all women's hearts) who believes in the fairytales that we've been fed from a really young age...subconsciously we all want it...we may not all be willing to admit it but we want it...we all want to feel sparks when he walks into the room...we want him to make us laugh...occassionally make us cry so we can watch him make it up to us...we want him to surprise us with puppies and trips away for weekends...we want it...we ALL want it...any woman who says she doesnt is lying...hehe

So here it goes:

Dear Heart,

you ready for this again? It never ended? Oh...so you're ready then...thanks for being there for me and here WITH me...i'll protect you but soon you may be his...not too soon...no worries

Sincerely,

@bestnewactress

Why Are So Many People So Unhappy?

Just a small message:

Life is so very very short. We hear about all the young lives being taken everyday. So i just want to say...whenever you can...

BRIGHTEN SOMEONE'S DAY!

LAUGH a little...you dont always have to show people how hard you work...they'll find out...on their own...because your hard work will speak for itself...a lot of people are shook when they find out about my work ethic because to the outside I may look to just be having fun...but...I'd have it no other way...if you're unhappy about your own life...I want to walk into a room and let you live vicariously through me...or you can read my blog and laugh/live/relate...or follow me on Twitter and you're guaranteed a moment of pure joy...Love.Live.Life.Laugh...repeat as much as you can :)

Be Blessed, happy, inspired and inspirational...

~@bestnewactress

Respect! Appreciation! Acknowledgement...

So even for the short week that I've been in LA, I've seen just how much work it takes to make it in this industry. Sure there are lots of people who get discovered "walking down the street" or "working at a coffee shop" but when I say make it I mean those true artists who are putting their heart and soul into what they do. I'm talking about producers who are playing 3 and 4 instruments in the studio, actors who've booked work who still go to acting classes to make sure their on top of their game, dancers who are constantly staying one head above the competition, etc...Because I hope to one day be hailed and respected for the artist that I am...I have decided to devote the next week to highlighting the accomplishments and good work of some people I find incredible (now keep in mind these are people I FIND incredible you dont have to agree). So I am going to start with one of my favorite singers right now:

Solange Knowles!

I think perhaps what I like most about her is her fearlessness. She is never afraid to try out whatever she is feeling at the time. Her music has changed almost every time she comes out with an album...and while people may buy her music just to compare it to the music of Beyonce...I think she always commits to what she likes and thats what makes it so incredible. She combines real old school funk with like Spanish drums and throws it over some hip hop banging bass...she's just ridic...I've always felt like Solange is old school Chaka Khan, P Funk and Lenny Kravitz's love child with a pinch of that sultry sound that the Knowles' seem to have been born with. And dont even get me started on when she goes straight non-commercial "i do what i want and dont give a f***" on songs like 'Champagne Chronic Nightcap' or how about when she gets really real on 'Tony'. I really want to focus only on these peoples' talent but I mean it goes without saying: the haircut=fearless! Love her music. Love her courage. Love the fact that she is wonderfully herself. And she's avid twitterer like myself :) Check out one of my favs by her: 'Sandcastle Disco' and her ode to the industry entitled 'F*** the Industry' off her mixtape...enjoy :)

Sandcastle Disco F*** the Industry

Its just day 1 tomorrow I think Im switching gears to an Actor...who will it be? Hmmmm...

Signing off,

@bestnewactress

Big Dreams, Big Place

So...as most of you should already know...I MOVED TO LA! Yeah man, I'm nuts, right? I still dont feel like I am 100% staying here...I still feel like I am just visiting and not so much like this is now my new home. I dont really know much about California other than the places I have been on my numerous visits here over the years and the area that I live in now but one thing's for sure...Im gonna be here for a while :). A lot of people have asked me over the last two days how I feel...and honestly? I dont even know. I have a good friend who I moved here with and she's been like "whats going on? you're usually more chipper than this..." but my mind is just so full of all the things I feel like I need to be doing to make my dreams come true. I wake up first thing in the morning and hit the internet trying to find out who I should be talking to and where I should send information...its become like a routine just that quick. Anyone who knows me/my work ethic knows I am a hard worker...if i set my mind to something I finish it...and if I cant give it my best effort I AINT doing it...it's the same with my dreams for the future. I really dont want to look back 10 years from now and be like if I had only worked harder in those first few foundation years maybe I could have one or two more Oscars than I have now ( yeah I'll have one regardless but...) or maybe I'd have my schools up and running or my businesses more established...I want to look back 10 years from now and see the groundwork I laid as the ultimate springboard into what I have accomplished and thats why I wont stop working. I'll do whatever it takes....I'll work until I cant keep my eyes open or my head off the pillow...and then when I feel like I cant take it anymore I will remember that God rewards hard work and I'll push a little harder...and I hope you all will do the same

Sincerely,

@bestnewactress